Fruita Research Station

The Fruita Research Station is located in the Grand Valley of Mesa County at an elevation of about 4600 feet, where the average annual precipitation of 8 to 12 inches is similar to much of the arid irrigated regions of Western Colorado. Crops are grown at this 80-acre station using traditional furrow irrigation on some fields, while using more efficient technology and practices on others. The Fruita Research Station addresses the challenges associated with conserving and efficiently using agricultural water, given that the majority of Colorado water rights are used for farming and food production. The frost-free season of up to 175 days and average annual daily minimum and maximum temperatures of 41°F and 64°F, respectively, allow the Fruita Research Station to conduct the bulk of agronomic research at the Western Colorado Research Center. This station propels knowledge on integrated cropping systems, supporting studies of reduced tillage operations, cover crops, single season inter-cropping, as well as research on alternative crops and forages. Additional to these efforts, the station hosts crop variety trials in partnership with industry and other universities.